to what extent

American  

[too wuht ik-stent, wot, hwuht, hwot] / ˌtu ˈwʌt ɪkˈstɛnt, ˈwɒt, ˈʰwʌt, ˈʰwɒt /

idiom

1. to how great a degree; how much, how far, how well, etc..

   To what extent were you acquainted with the deceased?

   These tests will help determine to what extent his memory has deteriorated.

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Etymology

Origin of to what extent

First recorded in 1615–25

Example Sentences

Terner Center managing director Ben Metcalf said it’s unclear to what extent those savings might reflect that cheaper projects just happened to apply for funding from LACAHSA.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

In that context, it seems easy to question to what extent this competition has been prioritised.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

"It's a new tool, so we don't really know to what extent it's going to work," he says.

From Science Daily • Feb. 4, 2026

Since 1945, historians have debated to what extent Naruhito's late grandfather Hirohito was responsible for Imperial Japan's war of aggression in Asia.

From Barron's • Jan. 2, 2026

And if not, to what extent are contemporary American conflicts over race the playing out, at least in part, of a cultural divide that came into being hundreds of years before Columbus?

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann